Weber looks to win second straight Senior Masters title

ARLINGTON, Texas - United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Pete Weber said winning the 2013 USBC Senior Masters ranked right up there with all of his other victories in his illustrious career.

Weber will have an opportunity to experience that feeling again next week when he takes to the lanes as the event's defending champion at the South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas. He again will take on a field of nearly 300 of the world's best bowlers age 50 and older.

The USBC Masters title has always eluded Weber, as well as his late father Dick, but Weber came in and claimed the Senior Masters in his first opportunity after turning 50.

"You know what, the Senior Masters does have that Masters name behind it and that does mean a lot to me," said Weber, who owns 10 career major titles on the PBA's national tour. "Even though it's a senior tournament, it ranks right up there with all my other wins. I'll take another Senior Masters win anytime."

As the defending champion, Weber automatically will have a spot in the three-game double-elimination bracket portion of the event. However, he will bowl qualifying to try and improve his seeding in the bracket. If he finishes outside of the top 63 in qualifying, he will earn the No. 64 spot in the bracket.

All players will bowl 15 games of qualifying over three days to determine the 63 bowlers who will join Weber in match play. The player who survives the bracket to win the event will take home $16,000 of the more than $100,000 prize fund.

Bowling fans can watch every round of the Senior Masters live on BOWL.com's BowlTV. The stepladder finals will be broadcast live on BowlTV on June 13 at 6 p.m. ET.